KEENE, N.H. 12/11/10 – Junior Derek D'Amours (Agawam, Mass.) scored a season high 31 points including the go-head free throws with 17 seconds to play, lifting Keene State to a 79-78 victory over the University of Southern Maine in Little East Conference men's basketball action at Spaulding Gym on Saturday.  It was a milestone win for KSC Coach Rob Colbert, who became the school's all-time winning men's basketball coach with his 211th victory. He surpassed Glenn Theulen, who coached the Owls from 1968-84. Colbert's record win didn't come easy. 

With the Owls trailing 76-74, D'Amours knocked down a three-point shot from the right side of the lane to give KSC a 77-76 lead with 38 seconds to play.  Senior guard Devin Chambers (Memphis, Tenn.), who finished with 12 points, put USM back on top with a put-back basket with 22 seconds to go. In the Owls' next possession, D'Amours was fouled going in for a lay-up, and after a USM timeout, hit both his shots for the line to give KSC a 79-78 lead with 17 seconds to go.

The Huskies had several chances to get the winning hoop in the closing seconds, but senior guard Corteze Isaac (Germantown, Md.) missed a lay-up and senior forward Otis Smith's put-back attempt was no good as KSC (8-1, 2-0 LEC) held on for its second LEC win of the season.

"We worked the ball around at the end and I was lucky enough to get an open shot and knock it down," said D'Amours about his late-game three-point shot.  "At the line, I was just thinking about hitting the free throws and getting a stop to win the game.  That was a good win for us."

"I knew it would be close down the stretch.  We haven't played in one of these types of games, so with a younger group I didn't know how we would play," said Colbert.  "We bent, but never really broke.  We had some problems offensively, but we have guys who can make plays and bail you out. We stole this one tonight, but I'm not giving it back."

The Huskies (5-3, 0-2 LEC) jumped out to an 11-3 lead on a put-back by Chambers.  Struggling early from the field, the Owls used a 15-0 run to get back into the game. After a jumper by junior Mike Poulin (Readfield, Me.) put USM up 31-20 at the 6:40 mark, the Owls began their run.   Sophomore Ryan Martin (Wayne, Me.) had seven points, including a three-pointer, in the run that concluded with sophomore Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) hitting two free throws that put KSC up 34-31 with 1:34 to go in the half.  KSC took a 35-33 lead to the locker room.

USM scored the first six points of the second half to go up 39-35. KSC pulled ahead with a mini run that included a slam by Wright, a fall-away three-pointer and put-back by D'Amours that gave the Owls a 55-48 lead at the 11:16 mark. 

USM took back the lead on a great play by senior Otis Smith (Altamonte, Fla.,). Falling to the ground he fed Issac for a dunk that made it 62-60 with 7:29 to play. Taking a no-look pass from junior Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Me.), Chambers hit a lay-up to give USM a 70-65 lead with 4:03 to play. The two teams traded baskets. Wright hit a turn-around shot in the lane and Isaac had a tip in to make it 74-71 USM at the 1:28 mark.  The Owls rallied behind D'Amours, who scored KSC's last eight points.  His conventional three-point play tied the score at 74-all and after a couple of free throws by Issac, he finished off the comeback.

Martin, who was playing against his Maranacook High School teammate Poulin, finished with 11 points while Wright finished with 10 points, three blocks and a game-high 12 rebounds.  "The key for us was establishing the tempo," said Martin.  "It was fun playing against Mike. He was my point guard all though high school. We both know each others' moves. "We're 2-0 in conference and hopefully we can keep rolling when we come back from the break."   

Issac matched D'Amours with 31 points for USM. Bergeron scored 14 points, Chambers added 12 points, and Smith finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

KSC was 25-for-39 from the line and edged the Huskies 46-41 off the glass.

Following the game, Colbert said he is much honored to break the record. "It's overwhelming to think about it, but I'm thankful to all the people that supported in our time here, especially my wife Michelle and (KSC AD) John Ratliff, who hired me." 

Keene State is off until Jan. 3 when it plays in the Blue jay Classic against host Johns Hopkins University.  Southern Maine plays Jan. 1 at the Catholic University tournament.